Alumni stories: Erzsi Bernath

2017 dance B.F.A. 

“Straight out of college I booked a contract with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines dancing on the Freedom of the Seas (known for its heavily technical and endurance testing shows) for 7 months! Performing weekly and getting paid to travel and explore was a dream.

Afterward, I wanted to book a job that would allow me to train for long hours and keep pushing myself on the daily. That next season I was hired by Odyssey Dance Theater out in Salt Lake City, Utah for a short seasonal gig, but when it was wrapping up I was asked to stay and join as a full-time company member. I spent that year in the chorus/corps, and the following season I was made a soloist in several of our evening-length shows. ODT is legendary for its highly theatrical and athletic story-telling, entertaining the masses with classical and comedic productions.

My goal after that year was to start going for equity-building jobs in the hopes of moving to NYC eventually. Unfortunately with the pandemic, I’ve now been waiting out the storm- but I’ve been taking a class in Chicago and preparing for the next audition season. We performers are resilient and I know with time our field and industry will be back working safely and successfully again! I’ve also been teaching at preprofessional studios and modeling... but those are side gigs!”

Video of Day in the life of Erzsi Bernath

Erzsi's senior year

  • Erszi in 2013 in the same pose as a second picture, taken in 2020.

  • #WMUNowandThen photo challenge "The pose was not intentionally done to mimic the “then” picture, but I think it is a beautiful testament and coincidence showing the growth I have experienced the past 7 years, specifically during my 4 years at WMU. This University gave me the bravery, tenacity, and knowledge I needed for the working world. Thanks to WMU I was able to do it successfully with integrity, grace, and eloquence that I did not have before my degree."

    WMU Alumni Facebook Post